Will A Voluntary Ban On Imports Save Scotland's Livestock?
SCOTLAND, UK - With the low risk season coming to an end, National Farmers' Union Scotland (NFUS) are asking producers to adhere to a voluntary ban on livestock imports from April until November of this year.
25 March 2010
1 minute read
Scotland’s 2009 compulsory vaccination programme against the most threatening strain of the disease (BTV 8) has delivered the maximum levels of immunity to the virus and NFUS is asking producers to build on this achievement.
The vaccination campaign was reinforced by the strong industry-led voluntary curb on imports of livestock from high-risk areas, effectively creating a fortress against disease incursion. Surveillance across Great Britain (GB) in early winter 2009 has demonstrated freedom from all strains of BTV.
With the high risk season approaching (April to November) and only a voluntary vaccine programme existing in many countries including GB, livestock authorities are urging producers to be extra vigilent.
NFUS is asking producers not to import livestock that are susceptible to BTV between April and November. It believes that there will be an opportunity to safely consider imports from Europe during the next low risk period.
TheCattleSite News Desk
